NFL Player Sues United Airlines, Says Woman Groped Him on Plane and Attendants Didn’t Respond Appropriately

An NFL player who has remained anonymous has sued United Airlines and its flight attendants after he said a woman groped him during a flight and attendants didn’t appropriately respond to his complaints.

The plaintiff, an “African American male adult and professional athlete in the National Football League” from Essex, New Jersey, said he was on a flight to Newark Liberty International Airport on Feb. 10 when a “middle-aged Caucasian female” who he believed to be intoxicated repeatedly touched him inappropriately on his genitals, thigh, chest and face, according to the civil suit. The woman also allegedly “ripped off” the plaintiff’s face mask, which he was wearing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday says the plaintiff’s traveling companion, an African American man from Philadelphia, alerted a flight attendant to the woman’s behavior but was ignored. The NFL player said he also complained to multiple flight attendants about the incident and they gave the woman a verbal warning. After four requests, the lawsuit says, the woman was moved to a different row of the plane.

Los Angeles-based attorneys Darwish Law Firm and Azizian Law are representing the NFL player in his lawsuit. The firms issued a joint statement Wednesday condemning United Airlines’ handling of the incident.

“In-flight sexual assaults continue to be an ongoing problem during commercial flights, particularly during ‘red-eye’ flights,” the firms wrote. “This matter is unfortunately based on several instances of assault – physical, sexual, and verbal – on a ‘red-eye’ United Airlines Inc. flight. Instances that could have been prevented, if not the harm reduced, had United’s personnel simply taken action sooner.”

Darwish Law and Azizian Law continued, “Our goal is to shine a light on how assaults can and are being made on men and not just women. This is significant because assault is assault, regardless of the gender, race and physical attributes of the victim.”

In a statement provided to TheWrap, United said, “The safety and well-being of our customers is always our top priority. In this instance, the customer involved was moved to a different seat. Because litigation is now pending, we’re unable to provide further comment.”

The NFL player is seeking court supervision of United and its flight attendants and employees as well as monetary damages of at least $4,000. In a statement to TheWrap, the representing firms stressed that they are treating the incident as a “civil matter.”

“Although we might feel the assailant’s actions were criminal, we are not in a position to seek such redress. As you know, with sexual assault, or any assault for that matter, it is hard to quantify the harm suffered. At this time, we do not have a dollar amount available for comment, but will say that we are seeking justice and compensation, including punitive damages, for what our clients had to endure. Accountability and responsibility are at the core of our justice system. We seek to hold accountable those who have harmed our clients through their direct or indirect actions,” the firms said.

Bored at Home? Here's Where You Can Watch Most of AFI's Top 25 Films (Photos)

Check out where you watch most of the films (yes, four are not available, unfortunately) on AFI's list.

25. "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)

Since you can’t see Aaron Sorkin’s new adaptation on Broadway right now, you can check out the classic film with an impeccable and honorable performance by Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. We should just say, watch everything on Amazon Prime.

Universal

24. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)

Another Spielberg classic, it feels like every kids movie or nostalgia show or movie of the last 20 years owes a big debt to “E.T.” And if you watched that adorable holiday ad from last year, it’s worth checking out just how well the original holds up. Again, you can watch this on Amazon Prime in collaboration with Starz.

Universal

23. "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940)

John Ford’s adaptation of the classic John Steinbeck novel is unfortunately not available for streaming at present.

20th Century Fox

22. "Some Like It Hot" (1959)

AFI in a separate list named Billy Wilder’s “Some Like It Hot” the funniest movie ever made. It’s a riot featuring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as two musicians who disguise themselves as women in order to evade the mob. It also features Marilyn Monroe at her absolute best. Also watch this on Amazon Prime Video or The Criterion Channel.

United Artists

21. "Chinatown" (1974)

“Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.” That’s the capper to a near-perfect movie rich with a web of corruption, deceit and crime. It also has a masterful Jack Nicholson performance in which he’s in virtually every scene, not to mention wearing a bandage on his nose for most of the film. You can also see this on Amazon in collaboration with Starz.

Paramount Pictures

20. "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)

It’s usually a Christmas tradition, but Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a rousing, feel-good story at any time of year and is an especially poignant message about valuing life and others in these hard times. Watch it on Amazon Prime.

Liberty Films

19. "On the Waterfront" (1954)

Marlon Brando had already given titanic performances in films like “A Streetcar Named Desire,” but his sobering work in Elia Kazan’s “On the Waterfront” helped the film sweep the Oscars, including Best Picture. It’s a drama and crime film about an ex-prize fighter who “coulda been a contender” and helps stand up to his corrupt union bosses. Watch it on the Criterion Collection/Crackle.

Columbia Pictures

18. "The General" (1927)

Arguably Buster Keaton’s finest silent film (he also has a quick cameo in “Sunset Boulevard”), “The General” is different from Chaplin’s “City Lights” in that it doesn’t have the same sentimental side and is instead jammed with laughs and incredible stunts the likes of which only Keaton could do. It's on Amazon Prime.

United Artists

17. "The Graduate" (1967)

Mike Nichols’ “The Graduate” helped to herald the shift Old Hollywood to New Hollywood, introducing American audiences to a style of filmmaking popularized by European giants of the early ‘60s. But it also helped to shape a new kind of teen counterculture and made Dustin Hoffman a star. It's available on The Criterion Channel/CBS All Access.

Embassy PIctures

16. "Sunset Boulevard" (1950)

Billy Wilder’s film noir probes the fading glory of Old Hollywood with Gloria Swanson as an old star of silent pictures, Noram Desmond. It’s a perfect place to start exploring the noir genre, as the Top 100 also includes films like “Double Indemnity” and “The Maltese Falcon.” You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video and The Criterion Channel.

Paramount

15. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968)

Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece was polarizing in its day (and still is), but it’s visually awe-inspiring, remarkably tense and a profound and spiritual story on the pursuit for higher meaning in life. Ideally it’s worth seeing on film in the biggest theater possible, but seeing as you’re not going anywhere during the coronavirus, streaming will do. It's available on DirecTV.

Warner Bros.

14. "Psycho" (1960)

Alfred Hitchock’s “Psycho” is as tightly wound of a thriller as you’ll ever see, using imposing black and white cinematography and Bernard Hermann’s riveting score to brilliantly set the mood. Just don’t take a shower afterwards. You can watch it on Amazon in collaboration with Starz.

Paramount Pictures

13. "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" (1977)

Ok, we’re guessing you’ve seen this one already or maybe heard of it. But if you are doing a marathon of the AFI Top 100 list, it’s worth it to see the wonder, creativity and old-fashioned charms of George Lucas’ original “Star Wars” film in the context of all the other classics on this list. It’s available on Disney+.

Fox

12. "The Searchers" (1956)

You can watch John Ford's "The Searchers," starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood, on DirecTV.

Warner Bros.

11. "City Lights" (1931)

Charlie Chaplin's lovely "City Lights" is available for streaming on The Criterion Channel is a great place to start for anyone new to silent cinema.

United Artists

10. "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

The famous movie about Dorothy and her journey to Oz, directed by Victor Fleming, is available for your viewing pleasure on Fubo.

MGM

9. "Vertigo" (1958)

Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo," starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, in collaboration with Starz.

Paramount Pictures

8. "Schindler's List" (1993)

Steven Spielberg's famous World War II drama is available on Amazon Prime Video, in collaboration with Starz.

Universal Pictures

7. "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962)

David Lean's 3 hour 48 min drama is available on Crackle -- however, you'll have to watch it with ads.

Columbia Pictures

6. "Gone With the Wind" (1939)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.

Warner Bros.

5. "Singin' in the Rain" (1952)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.

MGM

4. "Raging Bull" (1980)

You can watch Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull" on Amazon Prime. The film stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent and Cathy Moriarty.

United Artists

3. "Casablanca" (1943)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.

Warner Bros.

2. "The Godfather" (1972)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.

Paramount

1. "Citizen Kane" (1941)

It's not on streaming. Tough luck.

Paramount

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Are you running out of things to watch during the coronavirus scare? Go down the AFI Top 25 list and check these off as well

Check out where you watch most of the films (yes, four are not available, unfortunately) on AFI's list.